Metta Hour With Sharon Salzberg

Author and teacher Oneika Mays joins Sharon for episode 291 of the Metta Hour podcast. For over a decade, Oneika has brought yoga and mindfulness practices to people who have felt left out, judged, and alone— from correctional facilities to retreat centers, from Columbia Law School to Lincoln Center. She is the author of “Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation,” released by HarperOne in March of 2026, and the co-host of You Good? Podcast with Pamela Stokes Eggleston. This is her first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.In this conversation, Oneika and Sharon speak about:• How Oneika’s spiritual journey began• Training with teacher, Kimberly Brown• Metta’s impact on Oneika’s existing practice• The challenges of metta for the neutral person• Working at Riker’s Island Correctional Facility• Oneika’s new book, “Sit With Me”• The importance of forgiveness• What inspired Oneika’s new book• Loving people doesn’t necessarily mean liking them• Lovingkindness for oneself as a starting po